First up this Month is a something you may or may not have noticed - I have given the Home Page a bit of a facelift taking advantage of the multiple layers possible on web pages. The background image is from a range of limited edition calendars I produce each year for Friends of WVFFM.

Our second item of news concerns an important but unhappy rod that was featured on the News page at the end of June. The scarce Conroy, Bissett and Malleson rod that had seen better days is now in the hands of Jay Edwards, one of the current crop of Colorado rod builders and restorers. It's not often an object leaves WVFFM, but in this case I felt it best that the rod should be in the hands of someone who can bring it back to it's former glory. Jay has promised updates and pictures as he works on the rod, so I'll be posting those in due course.

This Month's acquisitions include an interesting pair of reels by Smith & Wall.​

The two reels are built around S&W's "Tryit" castings but feature an unusual brake, with a "Chicago screw" arrangement coupled with a spring to apply pressure to the rear face of the reel. This arrangement is very similar to one of the Moscrop patents of 1888 but also significantly different from S&W's own drag fitted to the "Tryit" model. Illustrated is a 3.5" model, the other is a 4". I will be integrating these reels into both the Smith & Wall page and the Moscrop Manchester Reel page in time.

I'm sure there will be more fun to share in the coming weeks so as ever, watch this space